Conservative borough councillors in East Staffordshire are speaking out about shamed Burton MP Andrew Griffiths but only two out of 25 have called for his resignation.

Eleven Tories on East Staffordshire Borough Council, which forms a large part of the Conservative MP's constituency, have said they are 'disappointed' at his misogynistic and offensive sex-pest behaviour.

They would not comment on whether they felt the MP should resign or not, saying any decision should be made in the light of the impending East Staffordshire Conservative Association investigation and Griffiths' own wishes.

The Burton Mail has contacted each of the councillors on the Conservative-run borough council asking whether they feel he should resign as Burton's MP.

Andrew Griffiths and Imogen Treharne (Image: Sunday Mirror)

There have been many calls for his resignation, including from East Staffordshire Labour councillors.

Out of the 25 East Staffordshire Tory councillors, 11 expressed disappointment at his actions, two have called from him to resign, two declined to comment and 10 are still to respond to approaches by the Burton Mail.

Here is what your local Tory councillor had to say:

Leader of the Tory party on the borough council Richard Grosvenor - Branston Ward

Richard Grosvenor has said he did not have a personal relationship with Andrew Griffiths

"I have complete sympathy that he is seeking help. I am really concerned about his wife and his baby. "It is now for the party to go through the process. Practically I don't understand how Andrew Griffiths can carry out his role as MP. There has been a lot of ridicule on social media. and I am not sure how women would want to meet with him. "The town hasn't got a functioning MP. We don't know where he is. He has had some contact locally but others haven’t been able to get hold of him. "It is wrong what he has done and I do feel he has to consider his position. Anyone would be considering their position. "He resigned as minister and I know he was really proud of that role. He must have been considering his position since the weekend surely.

Should the MP resign? "I think he has to consider that himself. There is a process to follow."

"I was shocked and disappointed by the news we've heard, but feel a decision on whether he should retain his position shouldn't be made until the party's disciplinary inquiry is concluded. "He'd done such a good job as a constituency MP and until last week he had the respect of all members and most of the electorate - even Labour voters. But this cannot be ignored. It's just awful and I feel particularly sorry for his wife in all this."

George Allen - Heath ward - Uttoxeter

"I'm disappointed that he's been doing these things and I cannot support Andrew as a Conservative candidate any longer. "Whether or not he steps down is a matter for him and his electorate. "He's done a lot of good work for Burton and Uttoxeter, but it's now impossible to support him."

Sue McGarry - Town ward - Uttoxeter

Sue McGarry

"I've known Andrew since 2010 and he's always been very supportive of everything I've done. I wouldn't be here today if he hadn't sent me a message saying 'you'd be a really good councillor - what do you think?'. "That said, I'm disgusted, disappointed, angry and let down at what's happened now. I'm just gutted for his family - why would you do it? What was the need? "The language he used in the messages is vile and disgusting and made me sick to my core. For that reason, my conscience won't let me support him. "The Conservative Party doesn't have the power to remove him as an MP - only the electorate can do that.

Julia Jessel - Needwood

Julia Jessel (Image: Burton Live)

"I will not comment [on any resignation] as there will be due process to go through and we have to be careful. "I have read in the press what has been said. I have worked with Andrew and campaigned with Andrew. He is a hardworking MP but equally I don't like what I am reading. But I used to be a magistrate and we were trained to listen to all the evidence before making our mind up. If you are not careful people jump on the bandwagon. "He is not my MP. Michael Fabricant [who covers Lichfield] is my MP and I am not a member of the Burton and Uttoxeter Conservative Association. He will have to explain himself to the association and that is entirely a matter for him."

Simon Gaskin - Tutbury and Outwoods

Simon Gaskin

"I have not really thought about whether he should resign or not. He has always been very helpful to me as an MP. He is hardworking and someone who has always looked after the local areas of Burton and Uttoxeter "I am just very disappointed to see all these texts he sent and I feel for his family."

Patricia Ackroyd - Branston ward

Patricia Ackroyd

"It is time for him to resign. So much has come out that it is not acceptable and it is time for him to go. It is morally completely unacceptable. An MP should be setting an higher standard not lowering it."

Jacqui Jones - Needwood

Jacqui Jones

"It’s up to Andrew to do the right thing. As you know he’s not my MP [Michael Fabricant is] but he knows what he has to do now for the benefit of his family and the residents of Burton."

Ed Barker - Weaver ward - Ellastone and Mayfield, near Uttoxeter

(Image: C)

"No-one's perfect and we all make mistakes. We understand Andrew is sorry and wants to make it right. The best way to do that is to get out of the public eye and rebuild his relationship with his family. The person I feel most sorry for is his wife - she's a lovely person. "The other issue is that Theresa May is really struggling and needs every vote she can get, so she won't be pushing him. "I'd have thought he'll wait until recess and look at the situation again."

David Leese - Winshill ward

David Leese

"I am glad he resigned as minister. It seems to becoming clear that there was a little bit more to it than meets the eye. "I have had representation from my ward members who say they think he should resign. I am not sure how he can continue as MP and how he will be able to hold surgeries with women in confidence. "I think a lot has to be put right before I can support him going forward but it is not in my gift to [speak about his resignation]. That is for him. I want to know we have an effective MP. I have great concern but the party machinery will do its bit."

Lynne Shelton - Heath ward - Uttoxeter

Lynne Shelton

"Should Andrew Griffiths resign? The only person who can decide that is Andrew Griffiths. "The Conservative-led county and borough councils have delivered unprecedented growth and employment to East Staffordshire over the past few years and there is no doubt that Andrew has been part of that economic turnaround. "He’s held a number of prominent positions in Government, culminating in a ministerial position, and has worked hard at a grass-roots level in the constituency. "Whenever, as a local councillor, I’ve asked for his help, he never hesitated to offer it and he has always treated me with respect. How quickly all that good work can come undone. "It’s not my place to sit in judgement of Andrew’s activities in his private life - there seem to be plenty of people doing that already. "I can’t imagine how his wife must feel right now. I feel so very much for her. "An investigation is taking place and I will wait on the results of that, but if we consider what we know at the moment, then he’s not broken any laws and these communications are a fantasy that have not been carried out. "The language he used is vile, really horrible and the implications incendiary and I totally understand why constituents are angry about this - I am. I find myself asking if he was sending these texts on the day he stood next to me at the Big Lunch in Uttoxeter, surrounded by his wife and child, by my friends and their families and the community I represent. The MP needs to ask himself some questions - after all the heat and anger drains out of this, will he be able to continue as our MP? I think if Andrew were to ask himself those questions and answer them honestly, then he would know the honourable thing to do."

Michael Bowering - Branston

Michael Bowering

"We have taken our time to formulate a declaratio and it is clear that the overwhelming opinion is he should resign and give the people to East Staffordshire the opportunity to find someone they have a little more respect for. I wasn’t impressed with his texts but it is now the time he did the correct thing and resign."